I had borrowed Claudine's more recent book from the library. They actually brought it all the way from Nova Scotia to Humboldt, Saskatchewan for little old me. I was impressed. But I had to return it after only three weeks. :(I would have liked to purchase that book, but of course they wouldn't have it at Michael's yet.

That's OK. I'm really impressed with thebook I purchased. It has in one book lots of techniques which I've been trying to learn from Cloth, Paper, Scissors magazinesand online, from videos and tutorials. I've been really chomping at the bit to try some encaustic work - with melted wax that is. A time ago I was thinking I had a small crock pot for melting the wax. Uh whoops - it's a fondue maker - getting my utensils muddled. I asked Greg to look for one for me when he was taking stuff from the house in Regina and the farm to Value Village but he didn't see one in the quick glance he made. Patience, patience Wendy. I was thinking yesterday of trying to melt some tiny bit of wax in the microwave but no, no, no google search says DO NOT. I really must have melted wax on this canvas. Oh well. I don't have the mini iron yet either. Wednesday - back to that arts and crafts store for another week's 40% off coupon.

Here are a couple more of the canvases I started. They are a bit smaller - 8 x 10 inches and 5 x 7 inches, I think. I won't take time to run downstairs now to measure.

Saturday, March 29, 2008

CREATIVE EVERY DAY - WOW, I can hardly believe that it's so close to April and I've hardly been doing any creating. I think I'll have to peruse what I have all created for creative every day 2008and for myself. Maybe I've forgotten. More so I've been busy creating organization from what often seemed chaos.

I've been busy the past 3 months with lots of cleaning. Initially I was doing major work in our basement so I might have my very own studio. Now more recently I've been trying to clean in my brother and parent's place a bit at the farm so there might be room to place some of the things they are choosing to bring from the house in the City in which my parents lived for a number of years. My parents have been mainly living at the farm again recently so my brother might provide the care and attention they both need as their age increases and their memories continue to fail. The house in Regina has been sold. Fortunately the purchasers are neighbours who have agreed to keep much of the furniture my parents are not interested in keeping. This even includes dishes, pots and pans, and pictures on the wall. They have also advised not to worry about doing a major cleanup as they will be moving things in and out, so agreed we should not look after those details. How fortunate we are.

The REALLY EXCITING piece of all this is that I have been finding and acquiring some treasures, to me. As I was cleaning the basement here I had found old stencils from more than ten years ago. I can't remember what else I found here. I CAN tell you about the pieces which Greg just brought in. He had made a trip to Regina to help with some more packing and moving. He went by himself to have more room in our van to bring a love seat which I needed for the basement. I was wishing to have room in the studio for it. Instead I will choose to put in a vintage cupboard that had actually belonged to my aunt and uncle. They had built the house initially. It had never been taken out by their daughter. I also got a small green cupboard which I had totally not remembered. Greg KNEW I would want it. He also brought some vintage sock dryers and wooden apple boxes. All these finds make the sweat and tears worth it to me. I forgot to mention the box of magazines - more Chatelaines from the 60s, a couple of Post and Life magazines also.

A couple of weeks ago we brought a buffet cupboard from the farm that was in one of the outer buildings. The buffet used to be inside the farm house. My family agreed I could have that a few years ago. It looks great in the studio.

To keep this post of reasonable length I won't take time now to show the backgrounds I FINALLY got to do last night and today. I'll show them tomorrow. I think I'll try to do a video about my studio and the vintage finds. Might take a while. I'll see what I can do.

The pictures are from a journal I worked with for a project of a friend's niece. The journal is to travel as far as possible in a certain amount of time. I felt very honoured to be asked to participate and really had fun doing it.

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

I'll just take a moment to show this Easter arrangement I set up in my studio last Friday. I'm making great progress with it's organization. Note I've decided to call it a studio after all. Should mention the little yellow outfit belonged to baby Wendy :D

I hope you all had a happy easter. Ours was lovely followed by major busyness. I'll take a moment to share another day.

Busy day again tomorrow - my creative space will open hugely in next few days though. YES!!!! I can hardly wait to get back to it AND get some NEW art on my etsy.

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

For those who love etsy and those who love art: I just got this link in one of the etsy newsletters which I have been receiving on a regular basis. It leaves me drooling just looking at the post. I can hardly wait to visit the shops. I am familiar already with a couple of them.I am also left chomping at the bit to get much more creating done and to think seriously about what I might do for my banner. I love playing with the banners but that too has to take time.Don't miss my yesterday's post. She smiles.

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

eyes and voice:

I'll only take a few minutes now to introduce a couple of new links. I have decided to start a new blog which contains only my photos and slideshows of my art. I'll get a link in the sidebar shortly. Take a peek and let me know what you think - windyangelsEyEs.

You can find a link to St. Peter's Chorus, the group with which I have been singing for many years, at this site. It is a work in progress by one of our group members. I think he's been doing a terrific job with this and other creating for the Chorus. Thanks Manny.

I may not have time to be with you here until late March, early April. Please remember to stop by for a visit at my etsy shop if you have a spare moment. I am having very little time for creating now and adding to my shop but your visits are so heartwarming. I am investigating professional printing of my photos. This is being a challenge added to many other challenges right now. Hopefully I'll learn something soon. I also feel up lifted when I get extra views on any of my videos. Thanks to everyone for your support.

May angels be with you as you traverse through this Holy Week. If you are a friend that celebrates the Passover I understand that is not celebrated until April. I will hope to think of you at that time.

Thursday, March 13, 2008

Dreaming for spring: Over the past days I have put together these journal pages as well as doing a video surrounding them and the idea of waiting for spring. One of the pictures on the video actually shows the journal on top of snow. I fear we may have snow for many weeks yet. If we are fortunate it will disappear sooner. If not, well, I'll just keep dreaming.

I had so much fun with these journal pages. I look forward to creating many more. And the next step will of course be canvases. I've one started, a flat canvas. I must see where I might take that.

I have also been adding items slowly to my etsy shop. Between writing descriptions, taking pictures, listing items, putting together videos, and trying to do my regular routine, sigh, there's little room for creating. Ah, creating. I will get to it, all in good time.

Thanks to everyone for the support through these times when I've had little room for visiting your lives. I do intend to get back to that. And thanks for any prayers that might be coming our way. They are so greatly appreciated.

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

angelsdreams.etsy.com is open for business. Amidst all the March madness (yuck, I kind of hate this month) I have managed to put some items in the shop. Please stop by for a visit and bolster my self esteem by hearting me and viewing the items :-) I have many shops bookmarked and will get around to hearting you as soon as I can, hopefully even ordering some items. Please be patient as my circus of a life rolls on. Once we have my folks house emptied and cleaned, mid-April, I will have much more time hopefully to create and share. Spring will also help my energy levels. Send me sunshine if you have any to spare. Send your snow and cold weather in other directions if that is the challenge you are facing now.

Oh, about the sixteen year old - I think prayers for my patience and peace of mind are probably the only things that will help there. Actually today was a reasonably calm day with her. I'll hope for the same tomorrow.

One of the items I've listed in my shop:

Hopefully able to bring you another video tomorrow and some current art through it.

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"To laugh is to risk appearing the fool. To weep is to risk being called sentimental. To reach out to another is to risk involvement. To expose feelings is to risk showing your true self. To place your ideas and your dreams before them is to risk being called naive. To love is to risk not being loved in return. To live is to risk dying. To hope is to risk despair, and to try is to risk failure.But risks must be taken, because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing. The person who risks nothing, does nothing, has nothing, is nothing and becomes nothing. He [or she] may avoid suffering and sorrow, but he simply cannot learn and feel and change and grow and love and live. Chained by his certitudes, he is a slave, he's forfeited his freedom. Only the person who risks is truly free."